For those aiming to tackle complex social, environmental or health problems, this 2 day workshop gives you the tools, skills and rigor to proceed with confidence.
"I feel like I've gone from zero to 90 in two days."- Manager, Strategic Communication, NSW state agency
Sydney 23-24 April 2013
Melbourne 30 April - 1 May 2013 Cost $595
Walk away with a complete plan for your next project, down to tactics, messages and evaluation. It includes a crash course in the psychology of change; a step-by-step program design methodology; and a hands-on design clinic for managers with up-coming projects in sustainability, health, road safety and other areas.
Click to see a graphical representation of what's in the workshop.
"If not, then what?"
How to reinvigorate a Landcare or bushcare group. An inspiring collection of reinvention ideas generated by participants in Les's Passion Mashin' workshops. Download the booklet. (287k PDF).
A Palette of Behavioural Interventions One of the biggest challenges facing program designers is to imagine the full range of interventions available to them. This two-page tool sets them out simply and accessibly. Get the tool.
How to craft a persuasive climate change message It's time to shift the climate change discussion from facts to actions. Here's an example of how to do it, based on lessons from behavioural psychology. Download (1.1Mb PDF).
The 5 Doors Confused by behaviour change theories? Here's one that wraps some of the best thinking into 5 simple principles. It's guaranteed to generate insights that change the way you work. 5 Doors Theory (147k PDF). 5 Doors diagram (12k PDF).
FAQs about behaviour change The same questions about behaviour change come up again and again. Here are some answers that might be useful. This article first appeared in
The Guardian. (86k PDF)
What enables cycling? This study, carried out for the City of Sydney, will be of interest to anyone wanting to increase cycling in their communities.
Download the study. (1.5Mb PDF)
Download the cycling logic model (168k PDF)
The dark side of regulating behaviour - the case of seat belt laws Seat belt laws were supposed to make us all safer. Amazingly, after 40 years there is still no certainty about whether they have done so. Instead seat belt laws demonstrate some of the unexpected "blow-backs" that undermine attempts to legislate behaviour.
Download. (246k PDF)
The problem with Social Marketing - why you can't sell change like soap This paper presents a critique of Social Marketing. Why the answer to "wicked" problems requires different approaches. The paper. (140k PDF)
Enabling Change: the process and the theory Here, for the first time, is the step-by-step methodology and the theoretical background to the Enabling Change method of program design.
The Enabling Change process (260k PDF)
5 Doors Theory (147k PDF). 5 Doors diagram (12k PDF).
Introduction to the Diffusion of Innovations A succinct introduction to the model of change that focuses on innovation design, viral communications, and satisfying the needs of users. Download (259k PDF)
[This article is very popular. It's been downloaded over 12,000 times in the last 3 months.]
Change and social networks Nicholas Christakis' TED talk on the groundbreaking research with James Fowler that demonstrates how obesity, smoking and happiness (and lots more) travel along social networks. [Ah-hah moment: our little viral messages and conversations are gifts that bind our networks together!].
The power of first followers Derek Sivers' Lessons from the Dancing Guy - a beautiful depiction of diffusion in action, and a reflection on the power of "first followers".
What REALLY motivates people? Dan Pink's entertaining video on why incentives so often backfire and how we are at our best when simply given a chance to be good.
Join the Changeology LinkedIn Group to ask questions, find out about new resources and ideas, and be part of the buzz.
Les Robinson is Australia's preeminent trainer and strategist on the design of behaviour change programs.
Les consults widely on the design of behavioural programs. He trains managers in the fields of sustainability, health promotion, road safety, natural resource management and emergency management. He facilitates strategic forums, workshops, community events and conferences.
About Les's standard training workshops: Changeology The practice of program design for change.
Facilitation Skills
Facilitate any group with confidence.
Plan it Together Skills and tools to engage a community in plan-making.
Workplace Behaviour Change Engage your staff in action for sustainability.
Passion Mashin' Reinvigorate Landcare and bushcare groups.
Les's Changeology blog is about what it takes to make change happen. Follow for insights, ideas and innovations.
Les is currently excited by:
OpenIDEO This site, launched in August 2010 by global design firm IDEO, enables social, health and environmental problems to be tackled by virtually unlimited communities of collaborators through a process of inspiration, concepting and evaluation. No more need exhausted committees sit around wondering why they can't solve the world's problems with their own comparatively tiny cognitive resources.
The Conversation My new addiction. The sublime knowledge of Australian academia, rendered into crisp journalese, plugged directly into the daily zeitgeist. Whoever created this is a genius.
The Heath Brothers are amongst the deepest, most inspiring and clearest thinkers about making change happen. You can download excerpts from their superb books Made to Stick and Switch.
UPDATE ON CHANGEOLOGY, THE BOOK: The UK edition is out now. Australian and US editions are due for release in March 2013...
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